The fire service has said it had a ‘relatively quiet’ night as thousands across the north gathered to light bonfires to mark the Twelfth of July.
Pyres, ranging from towering structures to beacons, sited at an estimated 300 locations, were lit on Thursday night, with some lit earlier.
While it is understood no significant incidents were reported, police confirmed they have “commenced investigations” after a number of complaints were made about several bonfires.
Some featuring Irish tricolors, nationalist election posters and sectarian slogans were the target of recent criticism.
Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: “We have received a number of complaints relating to election posters, flags and other offensive material being placed on bonfires across Northern Ireland and are treating these as hate crimes and hate incidents.
“We have gathered evidence, and commenced investigations.”
The bonfires are an annual tradition in loyalist areas across Northern Ireland every year ahead of Orange Order parades on July 12.
The Eleventh Night is typically one of the busiest nights of the year for the north’s fire service, but this year call outs were down on what was a “relatively quiet” night.
The fire service reported receiving 109 emergency calls, and attending 37 bonfire related incidents.
Brian Stanfield, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, said: “It has been a relatively quiet Eleventh night for Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.
“Between 6pm and 2am, we received 109 emergency 999 calls. This resulted in our firefighters attending 78 operational incidents, 37 of which were bonfire related.
“During this period, the number of emergency calls received was down 25% when compared to 2023.”
Peak activity, he said, was between 10pm and 1am and normal emergency response was maintained.
“I would like to thank our firefighters, Regional Control Centre personnel and support employees involved in the operational response tonight and commend those involved in the planning preparations including our multi-agency partners,” he added.
“I am encouraging everyone to follow our safety advice across the weekend to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
Some bonfires were lit early on Wednesday night, resulting in around 50 firefighters and six officers being tasked to bonfire related incidents.
A controversial bonfire in Co Tyrone which had a replica of a police car placed on top was among those lit early.
Hundreds of people gathered to see the lighting of the pyre in Moygashel, near Dungannon which also featured the faces of Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly and former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
A total of 24 firefighters and two offices along with four appliances, one aerial appliance and two water tankers attended the bonfire at 10.31pm.
It was reported that the structure quickly toppled over into some trees.
A bonfire in Portadown was set alight at 11:30pm on Wednesday almost 24 hours ahead of the traditional ignition.
A total of 26 firefighters and four officers with five appliances and one aerial appliance were called to the bonfire.
Firefighters doused nearby houses and a block of flats as a precaution shortly after the pyre collapsed.
As in previous years, there were some scorch marks and clutter at the sites of unofficial bonfires.
In east Belfast, young people built a small pyre in the carpark of Bloomfield Walkway and later set it alight. Smouldering rubble was visible on Friday morning just feet away from part of the carpark which remains damaged from a similar fire last year.
Once an area of concern, it no longer hosts a major bonfire. In previous years, Belfast City Council had deployed contractors to remove material over fears it was too large and close to houses.
Rubble and scorch marks were also left behind from a controversial bonfire in the Dr John Pitt Memorial Park in east Belfast which was reopened last month following a £1.7m revamp.
The area has previously been in the spotlight over an illegal lockdown gathering and a controversial Eleventh Night bonfire.
In Larne a structure claimed to be the world’s biggest bonfire was lit just before midnight.
Craigyhill is now lit. No flags. No nonsense. Can we have more of this please? pic.twitter.com/n9FkSH5Dtl
— Booker Dewitt 💔 (@WrecklessGamer) July 11, 2024
The bonfire at Craigyhill was measured at around 205ft, which its builders say is the tallest ever built on record.
In a statement posted to social media, the builders said they were submitting “documents and scans” to be considered by the Guinness World Records team.
The pyre made headlines earlier in the week when daredevil Stephen Maginnis performed what was claimed to the “world’s first base jump” from a bonfire.
